Spain's ruling PP gets worst local election result in 20 years

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy votes at a polling station during regional and municipal elections in Madrid, Spain, May 24, 2015. REUTERS/Juan Medina

MADRID/VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Spain's ruling People's Party (PP) took a battering in regional and local elections on Sunday after voters punished Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy for four years of severe spending cuts and a string of corruption scandals.

In a test of the national mood ahead of general elections expected in November, the PP suffered its worst result in more than 20 years to herald an uncertain era of coalition as new parties rose to fragment the vote.